A Little Broken (10 page)

Chapter Fifteen

The sun shining through the window woke Jessie. According to the bedside clock, it was six in the morning. She’d only been asleep for about three hours since the nightmare episode that Dominick rescued her from. His arms were still around her, his face buried in her hair as he slept. She became aware that he was aroused, hard, and pressing into her backside. She squirmed a bit, and he groaned, shifting to pull her tighter against him.

She lifted one of his arms so she could turn in his embrace. He looked so lovely to her, his hair rumpled with sleep, mouth open slightly as he breathed. Stretching, she reached up to kiss him softly on the lips. He stirred then, and opened his eyes. He closed them again, but captured her lips with his. His kiss was gentle at first, a mere brush of lips. His hand came up to cradle her face, holding her, and he deepened it. She opened without any prompting and his tongue brushed hers, reigniting the flames that had only dimmed inside her the night before.

Dominick moved abruptly, rolling her flat, holding himself above her. His hand moved through her hair, caressing it as he continued to kiss her, his body molding against hers. As his erection brushed her, she arched into him, a moan escaping her lips only to be eaten by his mouth. He groaned, his hand releasing her hair, trailing her neck, her shoulder, and finding her breast. He squeezed, finding her nipple and rolling it with his fingers.

Breaking the kiss, he said, “Jessie, tell me to stop. I want you, God, I do, but you’re not ready.” His voice was pained, pleading with her to say no. The problem was, she didn’t want to say no. His hand on her, his body against hers, was amazing.

“Don’t. I don’t want you to stop. Please, make me forget,” her words came out breathless as he kissed her neck.

“Damn, Jessie.” Only two words, but Jessie felt them to her core. She’d known that he’d wanted her, the evidence was plain to see, and feel, but those uttered words told her more than his body ever could have.

Pushing up on her arms, she pulled her borrowed tank top off, throwing it carelessly on the floor. She fought the urge to cover her breasts as she lowered herself back down, instead choosing to wrap her arms around his neck, dragging him back down with her. She locked her mouth to his, taking the lead this time: her tongue explored his mouth, ran across his teeth. They became all mouths and lips, tongues and teeth. He nibbled her lip as he pressed his erection against her, rubbing against her. She couldn’t help arching her hips up, meeting his, grinding into him. A small gasp escaped her throat, unbidden.

His hand trailed a path down her side, grazing her pronounced ribcage. She winced inwardly, hoping that he wouldn’t notice how badly her bones protruded, but he didn’t stop in his quest. His hand continued its path, past her hip, and down to her leg. As he brought his hand back up, it slipped under the light cotton of her boxers. He raised his hips off her, allowing room for his fingers to graze her folds softly, teasing her. As his hand reached her wet warmth, he groaned.

Dominick pulled away abruptly, kissing down her body, leaving a trail from his tongue that caused her to shiver. He kissed first one breast, taking her nipple into his mouth and sucking hard, before moving to the other to repeat the treatment. Through his torment on her breasts, his hand began spreading the wetness between her legs. As he continued nipping and sucking his way lower, she was surprised to find that the boxer shorts she’d been wearing had come off at some point – probably as he was distracting her – his caressing and sucking overwhelming everything. He stopped in the cradle of her legs and their eyes locked as he leaned down, separated her folds, and pressed a kiss against the sensitive nub at the apex of her thighs. Her body jerked at the sensation, her nerves on high alert.

“Oh my God,” she said on the end of a moan.

“It’s Dominick, don’t forget it when you reach paradise,” he said jokingly, though his eyes were heated. He didn’t give her a chance to respond as he plunged first one finger, then another inside her. He found a rhythm with his fingers and tongue; in, out, suck, in, out, suck. Jessie couldn’t think, could barely breathe, through the pleasure he was bringing her. He never looked away from her, never broke eye contact as he inserted another finger into her. It was enough.

She erupted, her hips bucking unabashed against his face, as he continued to suck, continued to wring every ounce of orgasm from her. She screamed as it rolled through her, from her. She’d never felt anything this intense. When she quieted, he gently removed his fingers from her and smiled so brightly, she dazedly thought that he was a second sun.

“God, Jessie. You’re so responsive – I could do that all day.” He crawled up the bed back to her, kissing her lightly on the lips before lying back down, and pulling her against him. She could still feel his erection, still hard, against her back.

“What about you? I agreed, you know. I’m a big girl, I know what I said yes to,” she said, voice hoarse from her screams.

“I’m good, Jessie. This was about you. The time will come for me, don’t worry.” His voice was soothing, but firm. It was apparent he had no intentions on finishing what she’d started – Jessie didn’t know if she was disappointed or relieved.

“But –” she started, only to be stopped by his hand over her mouth.

“No buts. We’re going to take a little nap, and when we get up, I’m going to make you breakfast then we’re going out. You said you don’t work today, and I’m taking advantage of that.” He kissed her hair once more.

Jessie meant to argue, really she did, but before she could form the words to say, sleep overcame her. Just like that, he won the discussion. She’d hate that when she woke up.

Chapter Sixteen

Jessie woke, confused. It took her a few moments to remember where she was, and she rolled over to find Dominick gone. His side of the bed was cold and empty, as though he hadn’t been there for some time now. Glancing at the ceiling, she saw that it was ten o’clock. Stretching, she extracted herself from the covers, slipped back into her borrowed boxers and tank top, and staggered into the bedroom’s adjoining bathroom.

A packaged toothbrush was on the counter, along with three different types of toothpaste, travel sized. There was also a wrapped facial bar. Confused, she looked around and saw a CVS bag in the garbage. She wandered over to it, plucking the receipt on the top of the pile – he’d purchased the items about forty-five minutes before she woke up. Her insides tumbled at his thoughtfulness as she completed her morning needs.

The smell of food filled her nose as she strolled up the hallway and into the kitchen. Dominick stood at the stove, an apron tied around his waist, stirring something on the burner.

“Morning, beautiful. Sit, please, breakfast is almost ready,” he told her, not turning from his work.

Unspeaking, she propped herself on a stool at the bar area. She was content to watch him work, and if she was being honest with herself, she had no idea what to say to him. The previous night’s events were on repeat in her head, confusing and shaming her all at once. She had no excuse for assaulting him the way she had, and she was beyond humiliated that he found her the way he had. The nightmares had plagued her since she started sleeping again, and even the state scenery change didn’t stop them. He now also knew that she slept on the floor, and the lack of judgment in his eyes made her feel worse.

“Stop thinking – house rules: no thinking in the kitchen.”

Dominick’s words interrupted her musing, as he pressed against her back to place a plate in front of her. He kissed her head softly, before placing his own plate on the bar, and taking the seat next to her. She looked down at her plate, which was an assortment of breakfast foods: bacon, sausage, eggs, home-style potatoes, toast, ham, and pancakes. This much food would feed her for over a week, and she looked at him, an eyebrow raised.

“I didn’t know what you liked, so I made a bunch of different stuff.”

“There’s no way I can eat all of this,” she said, trepidation in her voice. She certainly didn’t want to waste his food, or his time. She was also afraid of coming across ungrateful. She sighed internally, and briefly entertained the thought that life without him may be easier for her. True, she’d be alone, but then she’d only be dealing with her grief. Her guilt, her sorrows. With Dominick, she had a whole other spectrum of feelings: guilt was there, yes, but a different guilt. This wasn’t one of fault; this was the guilt of living when she should have been the one in the ground.

“Didn’t I tell you, no thinking? Stop giving me that look. You don’t have to eat it all. I won’t take offense.” He was shoveling his food into his mouth, almost literally. She was surprised he could breathe, let alone talk.

Hesitantly she picked up a piece of bacon, groaning as she took a bite. Man, it was good. It was soft, soggy, salty – perfect. The first slice disappeared quickly, and she was munching on the second before she broke the silence they’d fallen into.

“Thank you. For the toothbrush and toothpaste, I mean - you didn’t have to run out to get it for me.”

“I had to run out anyway, it was no big deal.”

“What time did you get up? How come you didn’t wake me?” she asked him. It had bothered her to wake up alone. If asked, she couldn’t have said why – she’d gotten used to being alone, maybe too used to it.

“I got up around maybe seven-thirty.” He paused before continuing, “I figured you needed the sleep. We went to sleep late last night, err, this morning…and you didn’t sleep well the first time. And the second time…well…” his voice trailed off, color flooding his cheeks.

Jessie knew that her cheeks were a mirror image of his, if not brighter. She was super embarrassed and completely disgusted with herself. Worse, when she thought about it, under the shame, was excitement. She’d enjoyed herself, truly let go for once, and wanted to finish what they started.

“I’m…I’m so sorry, Dominick. I can’t imagine what you must think of me, or what you see when you look at my face,” She wiped the grease off her hand, and moved to stand.

Dominick moved faster than her, pinning her back to the bar, an arm on either side of her. He stared at her for a moment then leaned forward to kiss her softly. Her hands on his hips, she let him. As he broke the kiss, he leaned his forehead against hers.

“I see you. I see
you
, Jessie. I see a beautiful, good-hearted, funny, and sarcastic woman. I see your fragility, your hesitancy, your true pain, and they make you that much more gorgeous to me. I don’t regret this morning, and I want more, trust me. I want it all. In your time, though. Not mine. When I do make love to you, it’s going to be because you want me to, because you want
me.
Not because you want to escape the memories that haunt you.”

His breath was warm on her face as he spoke, and she closed her eyes, letting his words fill her. He took her eyes closing as an invitation and captured her lips once more. His lips were firmer this time, pressing harder into hers, and his tongue sought entrance to her mouth. She opened to him, her body melting against him. With sheer force of will, she kept her hands from roaming his body, but it took effort.

Dominick pulled away first, breaths coming fast. Pressing his lower body into the cradle of hers he said in a whisper, “See, I want you.”

She could feel his desire against her, and she bit her lip to keep a moan from escaping her. If he wanted to wait for more, he
really
needed stop kissing her – though that thought made her frown. She didn’t want him to stop.

As if he read her mind, he took a deep breath and pushed himself away from the bar. He scooped his plate and moved to the sink, rinsing it, and leaving it there. He turned to her, taking her in from her bare feet to her mussed bed-hair.

“Finish your breakfast, pretty girl. We have plans today.” His voice was almost normal when he spoke, and Jessie took a deep breath before starting back in on her food.

“We do?” she asked, pushing her nearly full plate aside. “Well, in that case, I need to go finish what you started…” she let her words trail off as her fingers traced down her breasts, circling one of the hard points straining the fabric. Dominick’s eyes shot wide, his quick draw of air loud in the otherwise silent room. She stood, allowing her hand to graze lower, delighting in the tick appearing in his neck as he strained to stay immobile. “Erm, I mean, go to the bathroom to get changed.”

She stood quickly, leaving Dominick with his mouth hanging open. She couldn’t believe she had just done that. Or said what she had. Where the hell did
that
confidence come from? She made a great show of leaving the room, swaying her hips provocatively, glad that he couldn’t tell how shaken she was by her own comment. His reactions to her were thrilling her, making her feel sexy and wanted. It was a delicious thing, this newfound feeling, and secretly, she desperately wanted to keep it for as long as she could.

Chapter Seventeen

Jessie’s new confidence lasted all about five minutes – the amount of time it took her to reach the bathroom, shower, and realize she didn’t have anything to “get ready” in. Her options were the giant Scarlett dress, or the borrowed boxer shorts and tank top she was already wearing.

“Well, hell,” she said, clutching her towel tightly. She knew she was going to have to go ask Dominick if he had anything she might possibly wear until they could stop at her condo, and she dreaded admitting defeat.

Red faced and dripping, she opened the bathroom door, only to find a bag hanging on the door knob. Upon a quick perusal, she found a pair of jeans, a top, and some undergarments. Not questioning her good luck, or his thoughtfulness, Jessie snatched the bag fast. The clothes were all her size, brand new with tags that had some hip designer name on them – not that she cared about labels anymore. Seeing a small spot of pink at the bottom of the bag, she grabbed it, finding a rubber bracelet marbled with blue throughout. It had one word stamped into the material: Hope.